Aligning Objects to the Working Plane

One way to align objects precisely in 3D space is to align them to the working plane.

Setting Objects to the Working Plane with Three Points

 

To align an object to the working plane with three points:

1.	Select a view other than Top/Plan.

2.	Set the working plane location as desired. Select the object to align to the working plane.

3.	Click the Align Plane tool from the 3D Modeling tool set.

4.	Click a location on the object to align with the origin of the working plane.

5.	Click a second point on the object to define the X axis.

The line between the first and second points defines the X axis.

6.	Click a third point on the object to define the Y axis.

The line between the first and third points defines the Y axis.

The object aligns itself to the working plane as defined by these points. If the surface was mistakenly aligned to the wrong side of the working plane, use the Mirror tool to flip the object to the opposite side of the working plane.

Setting a Rendered Object’s Surface to the Working Plane

A rendered object can be aligned to the working plane.

 

To align a rendered object to the working plane:

1.	Select a view other than Top/Plan and a rendering mode for the drawing.

The projection must be other than 2D Plan, with a rendering mode of Unshaded Polygon, Shaded Polygon, Shaded Polygon No Lines, or Final Shaded Polygon.

2.	Click the Align Plane tool from the 3D Modeling tool set.

The cursor changes to a pointing hand when over the surface of a rendered object.

3.	Click on the surface to align to the working plane.

The object’s selected surface is aligned to the working plane.